Group SHEQ Manager in Cheshire, Warrington

Welding Engineers Ltd. is seeking an experienced and proactive Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager to lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the company's health, safety, environmental, and compliance strategy and systems.

The successful candidate will promote a positive health and safety culture across all workshop, fabrication, welding, engineering, maintenance, and site-based operations across the group, ensuring full compliance with legislative requirements and industry best practice.

The role is responsible for protecting employees, contractors, customers, and the business by reducing risk and driving continuous improvement in SHEQ performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Health & Safety Leadership
• Develop, implement, and maintain the company's Health & Safety Management System.
• Promote a positive and proactive safety culture throughout the organisation.
• Act as the company's lead advisor on all health, safety, and environmental matters.
• Ensure compliance with UK health and safety legislation and industry standards.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on health and safety performance.
• Drive accountability into the Branch network including field engineers
• Compliance & Risk Management
• Conduct and review risk assessments, COSHH assessments, and safe systems of work.
• Ensure all operational activities comply with company policies, legal requirements, and client expectations.
• Maintain health and safety documentation, registers, and compliance records.
• Monitor legislative changes and update company procedures accordingly.
• Support compliance with ISO management systems and industry accreditations.
• Site & Workshop Safety
• Carry out regular inspections and audits of fabrication workshops, welding operations, engineering projects, and customer sites.
• Identify hazards and implement effective control measures.
• Support “lean” practices to improve efficiency, housekeeping and safety
• Ensure safe use and maintenance of plant, machinery, tools, and equipment.
• Monitor contractor management and site safety performance.
• Ensure appropriate PPE requirements are maintained and enforced.
• Incident Investigation & Reporting
• Lead investigations into accidents, incidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences.
• Identify root causes and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure all incidents are reported and documented in accordance with legal requirements.
• Analyse trends and recommend improvements to reduce risks.
• Training & Development
• Develop and deliver health and safety training, toolbox talks, and awareness programmes.
• Ensure employees receive appropriate safety training and competency assessments.
• Support managers and supervisors in fulfilling their health and safety responsibilities.
• Maintain training records and compliance matrices.
• Environmental Management
• Support the developing ESG aspirations for the Group
• Support environmental compliance and sustainability initiatives.
• Monitor waste management, spill prevention, and environmental controls.
• Promote environmentally responsible working practices throughout the business.
• Assist in achieving company environmental objectives and targets.
• Customer & Contractor Liaison
• Act as the key contact for health and safety matters with customers, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
• Support customer audits and pre-qualification processes.
• Attend client meetings and site visits as required.
• Assist with health and safety sections of tender submissions and project documentation.
• Continuous Improvement
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance health and safety performance.
• Develop and monitor environmental, health and safety KPIs.
• Benchmark company performance against industry best practice.
• Recommend and implement improvements to policies, procedures, and training programmes.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in a SHEQ Manager role within engineering, fabrication, manufacturing, construction, or industrial environments.
• Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Experience conducting audits, inspections, and incident investigations.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to build positive working relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and health and safety reporting systems.

Desirable

• Experience within welding, steel fabrication, industrial engineering, or maintenance sectors.
• Knowledge of ISO 45001, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 management systems.
• Experience supporting external audits and accreditation processes.
• Membership of IOSH, IIRSM, or a similar professional body.

Qualifications

Essential

• NEBOSH National General Certificate (or equivalent).

Desirable

• NEBOSH Diploma or Level 6 Occupational Health & Safety qualification.
• Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards chartered status.
• Environmental qualification (IEMA or equivalent).
• Internal or Lead Auditor qualification.
• Key Competencies
• Health & Safety Leadership
• Risk Assessment & Management
• Compliance & Governance
• Training & Coaching
• Investigation & Problem Solving
• Communication & Influencing
• Attention to Detail
• Continuous Improvement
• Planning & Organisation
• Decision Making
• Provisional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Reduction in accidents, incidents, and near misses.
• Health and safety audit scores.
• Compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements.
• Completion of training and competency requirements.
• Corrective actions closed within agreed timescales.
• Customer and external audit performance.
• Reduction in Lost Time Incidents (LTIs).
• Achievement of company health and safety objectives.